St. Paul daily globe., 1887-01-17
Dakota's Capital Claims the Distinction
of Having the Finest Saloons in
the Northwest.
The Style Put On by the Liquor Dealers
on the Arrival of Members of the
Legislature.
Fifty Thousand Dollars Expended by
One Man in Fitting Up His
Place of business.
Members of the Legislature May Get
Tipsy in the Capitol Base
ment if They Wish.
Special to the Globe.

~-D~~-~@-N@NS
of more and finer saloons to the square inch
than any other town in the Northwest and
just at the present time, when seventy two
hungry lawmakers have pitched their tents
in the Queen city of the Missouri valley.
these saloons are putting ON their best bib
and tucker. An extra number of barkeepers
has been employed for each place, and the
glassware has been washed and polished,
the ornamental work has been retouched,
new chairs added to the ''Sinch" rooms,
extra chandeliers hung and large variety
of fancy drinks added. If there is a class
OF men who are good judges of liquor, it is
members of the territorial legislature. They
have a keen sense of taste and smell, and
can tell the difference between a gin tizz
and champagne cocktail at twenty
PAGES with both hands tied and a
gag in their mouth. This accomplishment
comes from long and persistent practice,
and so closely is the legislator allied to a
we'll equipped bar that he feels lonely when
he is more than twenty feet distant from
something warm and stimulating. Probably
this is why there is bar in the basement of
the capitol building; for there is one there,
and good one, and does it is reported
8 VERY GOOD BUSINESS;
besides it offers reasonable excuse for
the adjournment of either council or the
lower house when the members get tired of
attending to the dull and unlnteresting
routine of legislative work. They leave
their seats in the legislative halls, put on
their hats and, without saying word, with
one accord, set their faces toward the base
ment door, and inside of two minutes are
in front of the bar, with their hats tipped
back on their heads, their left hands thrust
down in their pockets and their right hands
on a level with their noses. which are
vanished by the seductive fumes that rise
from the half-hlled glass. | say half filled,
because Dakota legislator is very sensitive
on that particular point, and would not for
the world have it understood that he drinks
more than half glass of whisky at one shot.
The finest saloon in the city is located on
Fourth street. 1t is a dream. AS the Wis
itor enters from the street he faces broad
plate glass mirror of full length, so power
full that it almost reflects his conscience.
Back of the bar, reaching to the ceiling, is
mirror thirty feet in length, framed in
mahogany beautifully carved and orna-
mented with nails with solid silver heads.
On either side the mirror is tlanked by
MASSIVE OIL PAINTING
with heavy gold frame. The bar itself is
of rosewood and the front is a study in
wood carving. 1t was carved by a profess
Sional Italian artist especially for this Sa
loon. Along the front of the bar extends
rail heavily plated with silver, and from
hooks of the same material at intervals Of
two feet the entire length of the bar hang
rich damaSk towels, III which is woven the
monogram of the firm. These towels were
manufactured especially for the saloon in
Dublin. Ireland. The cuspidores around
the room are of solid German silver. The
tessalated floor is of black and white mar
bic. laid in beautiful designs representing
birds and animals of almost every variety.
The chairs are of solid cherry,
beautifully carved and polished and up
holstered with velvet plush. The wall beh nj
the bar is a plate glass mirror resting on a
wainscoating of butternut and birdseye
maple. This mirror, which is only 50X12
feet. was placed in the saloon at cost of
$1,000. A portion of the room is parti-
toned off into small stalls or boxes, which
are used as private rooms
FOR CARD PARTIES.
The walls are hung with tapestry and are
also richly decorated with fine paintings,
and the floors are covered with carpets of
the richest Brussels. The card tables are
of mahogOny inlaid with amethyst from the
Bad Lands of Montana. From the cell
ing hang chandeliers plated with gold.
ornamented with opals, amethyst, onyx and
sapphires strung on copper wires, fastened
and twined about the lights in artistic
shapes and fashions. In the evening, when
this saloon is Illuminated, it looks like a
scene of which one reads in the Arabian
Nights Entertainments, and you shut
your eyes and almost imagine that Aladdin
is there with his wonderful lamp. The sa-
loon cost nearly $4,000, and has been
paying investment to the man who ven
tured his money in the speculation. 1t is
crowded to its utmost capacity at night, and
four bartenderS are kept busy supplying the
wants of thirsty politicians and their
friends. TEE AITCH.